Student Spotlight &Deans List

Student Spotlight
FINE Mortuary College, A Private Two-Year College, announces recipients of the Kathryn Cantillon-White Memorial Scholarship
FINE Mortuary College, in collaboration with Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home in Woburn, MA are happy to announce the winners of the Kathryn Cantillon-White Memorial Scholarship. Kathryn Cantillon-White, a 2011 graduate of FMC, passed away in 2015 from pregnancy complications. Her spirit, love and dedication as a funeral professional is the foundation of this award.
The five winners of $2,000 each are:

Megan Demers
Megan Demers started her journey at FINE Mortuary College in Fall of 2022. She has a passion for science and looks forward…
Megan Demers started her journey at FINE Mortuary College in Fall of 2022. She has a passion for
science and looks forward to her future of becoming a Licensed Funeral Professional. Currently, she lives
in Nashua, New Hampshire, with her Doberman Pinscher, Riggy. Megan is extremely grateful for the
opportunity this scholarship will provide her for her education in Mortuary Science here at FINE.
Megan Demers started her journey at FINE Mortuary College in Fall of 2022. She has a passion for science and looks forward to her future of becoming a Licensed Funeral Professional. Currently, she lives in Nashua, New Hampshire, with her Doberman Pinscher, Riggy. Megan is extremely grateful for the opportunity this scholarship will provide her for her education in Mortuary Science here at FINE.

Jessica Boucher
Jessica is an apprentice at Rivet Funeral Home and Crematorium located in Merrimack New Hampshire and is…
Jessica is an apprentice at Rivet Funeral Home and Crematorium located in Merrimack New Hampshire and is also a certified cremationist at Merrimack Cremation Services, also located in Merrimack. She is passionate about helping people and is very determined to achieve her goals. Jessica is an honors student at FINE Mortuary College and has a well-rounded background and education. She is hoping to one day own and operate her own funeral home and crematory and will continue to assist families during their most difficult times. In her free time Jessica enjoys spending time with her friends and family and practicing yoga. She is very honored and appreciative of receiving this scholarship and would like to thank the Lynch Cantillon Funeral Home for their generosity.
Jessica is an apprentice at Rivet Funeral Home and Crematorium located in Merrimack New Hampshire and is also a certified cremationist at Merrimack Cremation Services, also located in Merrimack. She is passionate about helping people and is very determined to achieve her goals. Jessica is an honors student at FINE Mortuary College and has a well-rounded background and education. She is hoping to one day own and operate her own funeral home and crematory and will continue to assist families during their most difficult times. In her free time Jessica enjoys spending time with her friends and family and practicing yoga. She is very honored and appreciative of receiving this scholarship and would like to thank the Lynch Cantillon Funeral Home for their generosity.

Cheyenne Yuknis (Mourning Nightingale)
Originally from MA, Cheyenne currently lives in New York and is entering her second year…
Originally from MA, Cheyenne currently lives in New York and is entering her second year of studies at FINE Mortuary College. Born to a Native American mother, she belongs to the Mi’kmaq tribe, while matching her father’s Irish complexion. Cheyenne’s goal is to spread knowledge for Indigenous cultures in the death care field, and to further that goal she has developed a connection with a faculty member at FINE who has consulted with her to incorporate Indigenous funeral practices into brand new class material, fit within the school’s high standards of academic integrity.
While not singing her favorite Indigenous songs or studying mortuary science, Cheyenne can be found riding her motorcycle, a 1995 yellow Harley Davidson Sportster, along with her boyfriend Aaron on the back roads of New York state.
Originally from MA, Cheyenne currently lives in New York and is entering her second year of studies at FINE Mortuary College. Born to a Native American mother, she belongs to the Mi'kmaq tribe, while matching her father’s Irish complexion. Cheyenne’s goal is to spread knowledge for Indigenous cultures in the death care field, and to further that goal she has developed a connection with a faculty member at FINE who has consulted with her to incorporate Indigenous funeral practices into brand new class material, fit within the school’s high standards of academic integrity.
While not singing her favorite Indigenous songs or studying mortuary science, Cheyenne can be found riding her motorcycle, a 1995 yellow Harley Davidson Sportster, along with her boyfriend Aaron on the back roads of New York state.

Rachael Cannady
Rachael Cannady is a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science major from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. She holds a BA in English…
Rachael Cannady is a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science major from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. She holds a BA in English and most recently completed her master’s degree in business administration. Her goal is to own a funeral home and serve her community by providing comfort to others during the most difficult times of their lives. Rachael hopes to maintain the rise in female funeral directors and contribute high quality work to the field with an emphasis on compassion and care.
Rachael Cannady is a Funeral Service and Mortuary Science major from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. She holds a BA in English and most recently completed her master’s degree in business administration. Her goal is to own a funeral home and serve her community by providing comfort to others during the most difficult times of their lives. Rachael hopes to maintain the rise in female funeral directors and contribute high quality work to the field with an emphasis on compassion and care.

Rebecca Masson
Rebecca, a compassionate individual, began her self-discovery and community service journey at FINE Mortuary College in 2021…
Rebecca, a compassionate individual, began her self-discovery and community service journey at FINE Mortuary College in 2021. Her commitment to helping others led to a fulfilling career as a Funeral Service and Embalmer Apprentice on the serene Oregon coast. Beyond her professional life, Rebecca volunteers with the Kiwanis Organization, mentoring youth and making a positive impact.
Balancing work and community, Rebecca enjoys traveling with her wife, Milissa, and caring for their pets, Mousse and Tilly. Her empathy, dedication, and community spirit make her a deserving award recipient, showcasing her unwavering commitment to others.
Rebecca, a compassionate individual, began her self-discovery and community service journey at FINE Mortuary College in 2021. Her commitment to helping others led to a fulfilling career as a Funeral Service and Embalmer Apprentice on the serene Oregon coast. Beyond her professional life, Rebecca volunteers with the Kiwanis Organization, mentoring youth and making a positive impact.
Balancing work and community, Rebecca enjoys traveling with her wife, Milissa, and caring for their pets, Mousse and Tilly. Her empathy, dedication, and community spirit make her a deserving award recipient, showcasing her unwavering commitment to others.
Previous Year Recipients

Heather Short
Heather Short is currently studying to become a Funeral Professional in honor of her late husband Phil. She has been serving the Marlborough community for the last 20+ years as a physical therapist, personal trainer, and wife of a funeral director. When she isn’t helping people to get stronger and live healthier lives, she is supporting families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones at her family funeral home. Heather is the mother of 2 young men (Adam and Kevin) and works hard to support her boys and extended family.
Heather loves to spend time with her family and friends. When she has down time, she likes to sit around a fire at the ski slope, have friends over to the family lake house in addition to supporting her local community. As her boys continue to grow and become more independent, Heather is looking forward to traveling, going to concerts and becoming more involved with the funeral home.
Heather Short is currently studying to become a Funeral Professional in honor of her late husband Phil. She has been serving the Marlborough community for the last 20+ years as a physical therapist, personal trainer, and wife of a funeral director. When she isn’t helping people to get stronger and live healthier lives, she is supporting families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones at her family funeral home. Heather is the mother of 2 young men (Adam and Kevin) and works hard to support her boys and extended family.
Heather loves to spend time with her family and friends. When she has down time, she likes to sit around a fire at the ski slope, have friends over to the family lake house in addition to supporting her local community. As her boys continue to grow and become more independent, Heather is looking forward to traveling, going to concerts and becoming more involved with the funeral home.

Carissa Upton
Carissa Upton has been a student at FINE since February 2021. She currently works as an apprentice at Gillooly Funeral Home in Norwood, MA, where she enjoys working with her colleagues to serve their families as well as expanding her knowledge in the funeral service occupation. When she’s not in school or work, Carissa enjoys cooking, crafting, watching scary movies, and taking care of her two beloved pets, Baby Face and Pistachio with her boyfriend Marc. Finally, she wants to thank her mother Carol for being a never-ending well of love and support.
Carissa Upton has been a student at FINE since February 2021. She currently works as an apprentice at Gillooly Funeral Home in Norwood, MA, where she enjoys working with her colleagues to serve their families as well as expanding her knowledge in the funeral service occupation. When she’s not in school or work, Carissa enjoys cooking, crafting, watching scary movies, and taking care of her two beloved pets, Baby Face and Pistachio with her boyfriend Marc. Finally, she wants to thank her mother Carol for being a never-ending well of love and support.

Jamie Messier
Jamie Messier is an Apprentice Funeral Director and Embalmer who believes in the power of what empathy and compassion for the families and their deceased loved ones can do in the grieving and healing process. She began her journey in the funeral industry by first becoming a student at FINE Mortuary College and being hired as an apprentice for a wonderful family-owned funeral home, and now dreams of starting her own family-owned funeral home one day. Jamie Messier lives in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and volunteers with helping her son’s boy scout troop, and also helps with bringing donations to local animal rescues, and food to the local food pantries.
Jamie Messier is an Apprentice Funeral Director and Embalmer who believes in the power of what empathy and compassion for the families and their deceased loved ones can do in the grieving and healing process. She began her journey in the funeral industry by first becoming a student at FINE Mortuary College and being hired as an apprentice for a wonderful family-owned funeral home, and now dreams of starting her own family-owned funeral home one day. Jamie Messier lives in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and volunteers with helping her son's boy scout troop, and also helps with bringing donations to local animal rescues, and food to the local food pantries.

Sarah McCune
After working towards a BA in History from Simmons College and soon thereafter beginning my current career in restaurant and hospitality management, I am excited and humbled to begin the next chapter of my professional life in the death care industry. In just my three terms at FINE Mortuary College I strongly believe that I have gained the knowledge and conviction needed to succeed in this invaluable field and I’m looking forward to securing a funeral home apprenticeship in Boston for the new year ahead. I give my sincerest thanks to the Cantillon-White family for providing FINE students such as myself with this opportunity in their loved one’s memory.
After working towards a BA in History from Simmons College and soon thereafter beginning my current career in restaurant and hospitality management, I am excited and humbled to begin the next chapter of my professional life in the death care industry. In just my three terms at FINE Mortuary College I strongly believe that I have gained the knowledge and conviction needed to succeed in this invaluable field and I’m looking forward to securing a funeral home apprenticeship in Boston for the new year ahead. I give my sincerest thanks to the Cantillon-White family for providing FINE students such as myself with this opportunity in their loved one’s memory.

Jennifer Roberts
I’m a mother to 5 boys. I reside in Concord NH and am in my second year of mortuary school. I have a passion for helping people. I like to dance, draw, and act in murder mystery plays. My husband and I like to spend vacations in Salem MA, and with our family swimming in NH lakes. Fun fact… I am a distant cousin to Vincent Price.
I'm a mother to 5 boys. I reside in Concord NH and am in my second year of mortuary school. I have a passion for helping people. I like to dance, draw, and act in murder mystery plays. My husband and I like to spend vacations in Salem MA, and with our family swimming in NH lakes. Fun fact... I am a distant cousin to Vincent Price.